Just had a letter from Thomson. We were due to fly out on 04.12.08 from Manchester with First Choice direct to Goa. The flight details have now been altered and we are now flying with Thomson (TOM1137) via Gatwick and vice versa on our return. Anyone know why, and has anybody else had a similar change. We arrive in Goa only five minutes later than we originally were but it's two hours longer on the way home. Not a disaster but not what we originally booked. One good thing is I believe the thomson flights are even better than First Choice.

Same for me 20 November so I guess everybody booked on the thursday flights will be the same. Im still waiting for my letter but as Knobsey kindly put it on the forum I rang up and asked. they said a letter was on its way but I havent got it yet

We are booked on FCA086 from Gatwick, with Thompson. I saw some time ago that these are no longer showing on the Thompson site, so I contacted our travel agent, who told me nothing had changed. Do I believe her - of course not!!!

mcb .......... I agree it's not a disaster, and the stop-off at Ggatwick doesn't really bother me at all. However its a different story for my wife ( as mooted above).

PS ... I'm sure I've read somewhere that the Thomson flights are nowhere near as good as FC flights. I've been on a FC flight a few times and will openely say they are very,very good. Having not been on a Thomson one, i cant comment.

I am on the same flight as Polly50 - FCA086, Thursday 27 November from Gatwick. We believe this flight has now changed to ToM1137 starting off at Manchester and picking up at Gatwick.
Last week I wrote to Thomsons and I am waiting on a reply from them to confirm this. Will post again when I know more.
I flew with Thomsons to Goa in March. They were horrendous. We were promised seat back TVs with excellent on board entertainment, food from their new fantastic Italian Chef and more leg room. Sure they had the extra leg room, but nothing else, no seat back TVs as promised - not even in Premium Class - and their entertainment was almost non existent and very dated. The food is revolting. I wrote to Thomsons to complain when I got home, but they were interested. There was no apology made for the fact that we were sent out on one of the aircrafts which hadnt been updated.
Hopefully this winter they will have got their act together. I booked because I thought we were flying with First Choice, and I wont be too happy if we are shoved on a rubbish Thomson flight.

Gem, I think you have just had a bad experience to be honest.

As the Thomson flights should all have the tv's etc, when we went in 2007 it was just after they had done up all of their long haul planes. So to not get that, then you must have been unlucky and not got the correct plane, and possibly a replacement plane.

Fingers crossed you will be fine in November.

Just had the dreaded letter from the travel agent, Thomson flights for Feb 12th brought forward 2hrs so we can fly from Manchester to Gatwick and pick up people who were booked on on first choice flights (I think)...... never mind only another 2 hrs added to our return journey
unless we can get Thomsons to drop us off at Manchester 1st on the way home.... ....Keith

This year on the way home from Goa to Manchester our Monarch flight was delayed 24 hours and then they combined our flight with the Gatwick one. The worst part was that on arrival at Gatwick we had to change planes. That meant, clearing passport control, getting all the luggage and clearing customs before checking-in for the Manchester flight.

I got the letter this morning and have spoken to Thompson to make sure that what happened to us in April this year wasn't going to happen with the changes to the new TOM flight. She confirmed that the flight was just a stop over before proceeding to its final destination.

The changes aren't too bad except the extra 2-hours on the flight times.

It'll just be our luck that this flight will stop-over in Bahrain....!!!

And why o why are they saying that our flight arrives at 6.20am when the airport in Goa doesn't open until 7am..

Oh God !!! Memories of our trip to the Maldives for my 40th birthday.

First flight was from Manchester to Gatwick (that we were aware of) and after we taxi'd to the gate, the captain informed us we would have to leave the plane as there had been some sort of malfunction on the 40min flight down. Off we got and rather than put us in a transit lounge, we had to get our bags and do the passport bit again, then wait for another plane AND crew to become available. Apparently, the crew would have been over their hours if they were to continue onward to the Maldives.

Finally boarded another plane and flew to Male (main Maldivian island) and then boarded a sea-plane to take us to Meedhuppurru (sp). Absolutely the most relaxing two weeks of my life. Had a fab time doing nothing much. Then ...........................

Time to go home. Sea-plane back to Male, plane back to Gatwick and as we are taxi'ing to the gate, the captain announces we had hit a large bird on the approach to landing and it had gone into the engine.

You've guessed it ......... another plane required for the 40 min hop back to Manchester. We at least had the transit lounge this time, but a 4hr wait as well.

I think it was around this time my missus started with a fear of take-off and landing, but apart from that .............. the best holiday ever. Sorry, I know its a Goa forum, but the travel bit is the crux of the post.

Just tried to check mine on line with fc coming up blank.will be on the phone first thing in the morning. We are booked on FCA172/FCA173 on the 15.jan.09 from manchester

Talk about customer service, don't these airlines understand that people have holiday commitments and not all employers will accommodate change of arrangements

Goa airport is open at 6.20 am - changed the times so you will be ok.

Cariad7 yes, very valid point, plus we need to book flights from Glasgow to Gatwick and there is no way I am doing that til Thomsons confirm the time and date we are flying out

just got back from travel agent they knew nothing about it so they phoned first choice, its true all change. FCA172/FCA173 from manchester is now ToM353/ToM354 from manchester to gatwick to goa.departure is now 2 hours earlier and arrival home is 2 hours later. They said this is just minor allteration and we would lose are deposit if we changed. We booked a direct flight not one with a stop over and in my opinion would not call this minor. We will still be going but next year i think we will fly sceduled This is our 12 year going to goa hope its not are last with all the fafing about with visas and flights

Sadly it looks as though the Manchester to Gatwick detour is happening to lots (if not all ) of us. I know they say its only 2 hrs but it makes a huge difference to some.I have had to take an day off,friends of ours travelling from south Yorkshire have got to leave in the peak hour traffic.Also does anyone know how they plan to do the checking in/ allocation of seats, does Manchester start allocating seats 1st (as they have to be there earlier) .......Keith

we have freinds flying to manchester from belfast there ok for departure but only have 40 mins to get there flight home are first choice going to compensate for changes they have to make?????? KAGS

KJF I think it will be best to pre book your seats, more so if you are flying from Gatwick because all the seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis ie. those boarding at Manchester.
Kags we are travelling down to Gatwick from Glasgow and as yet we havent booked our flights because we thought something like this was happening. Once Thomsons/First Choice confirm the exact departure time etc then we will go ahead and book our flights.
And no, unfortunately First Choice will not compensate you.

Thanks Gemma, hopefully because we are going from Manchester we will be booked on 1st, I would pre book seats but I dont agree with having to pay to pre book them. To me its just another back handed way of making you pay for something that you should'nt have to.... ...Keith

Having flown twice long haul with Thomson, I can only say they were both positive experiences. The food was excellent considering you're on a plane and the in flight entertainment was excellent. Seat back games and a choice of films. For £5 extra you could choose out of a further 20 films. When the drinks trolley finished coming round, if you wanted anything else, you only had to press the buzzer. We couldn't fault it. We're flying to the Dom REp with Thomas Cook next year, and are not anticipating anything like the quality of Thomson.